Please note, Bedford & Strand is now closed. Time Out Food & Drink Editors, March 2017.
In an area otherwise dominated by tourist traps, Bedford & Strand is popular with local workers, who stream to the basement bar for after-hours drinks.
Named, American-style, after its two cross streets, the bar also has a New York feel to its wine list. The headline page of the list offers around 20-25 selections available by the glass, carafe or bottle, split into five price-defined sections: ‘Reliable’, ‘Honest’, ‘Decent’, ‘Good’ and ‘Staff Picks’. The rest of the list is available by bottle only, with the exception of a few sherries and champagnes.
There’s a balance of New and Old Worlds, along with some curiosities (Brazilian wine, for instance). Pricing isn’t aggressive, but it pays to trade up. A glazed partition separates the bar from the white-tableclothed dining area, where bistro staples are on offer. A separate deli counter serves finger foods and charcuterie.